Digital TV Switchover – June 2013

Get Ready for Digital TV – Western Australia is comprised of two switchover areas:
By 25 June 2013 all analog TV signals across Western Australia will be switched off and replaced by digital-only signals.

Tips to be digital ready
Prepare early by connecting a set-top box or digital recorder into an existing TV or by upgrading to a digital TV, which has an in-built digital tuner.
Check your eligibility for the Australian Government assistance schemes.
Use the help available from the Digital Ready Website www.digitalready.gov.au or the Digital Ready Information Line 1800 20 10 13.
Check that family and friends are digital ready.

What assistance is available?
You may be eligible for one of the government assistance schemes. If you are you should apply now to arrange an installation before the switchover date in your area.

Household Assistance Scheme
You may be eligible for the Household Assistance Scheme if you have not converted to digital TV and receive the maximum rate of the Age Pension; Disability Support Pension; Carer Payment; Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension; or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Income Support Supplement.

Assistance includes easy to use digital equipment; in-home installation and demonstration of equipment; and 12 months aftercare support and equipment warranty. If you are eligible, you should have received a letter from the Department of Human Services and should call 1800 556 443 to test your eligibility and to opt-in.

Satellite Subsidy Scheme
You may be eligible for the Satellite Subsidy Scheme (SSS) if you live in an area that will be moving to the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service because your local ‘self-help’ tower is not being upgraded to digital, and you cannot receive terrestrial digital TV services from an alternate transmitter.

The SSS reduces the cost of accessing VAST. You will receive a high definition VAST set-top box, satellite dish and cabling supplied and installed by a government-contracted installer for a one off co-payment. There is no ongoing cost to access the VAST service.

Specific locations across Western Australia may be eligible for the SSS. To check if you live in an eligible area enter your address into mySwitch tool on the Digital Ready Website www.digitalready.gov.au or call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13.

Disposing of old TV equipment
The Digital Switchover Taskforce encourages everyone to dispose of old television equipment responsibly. To find out more, including tips on what you can do with unwanted televisions and computers, visit www.environment.gov.au/ewaste

mySwitch
The mySwitch tool on the Digital Ready website www.digitalready.gov.au can help you find information about the digital TV services in your area and how to get the best digital TV reception.